Reasons why referring doctors order renal ultrasound contrast studies
Purpose: To determine the indications for CEUS for renal mass evaluation.
Methods: This retrospective, single-center, IRB-approved, HIPAA compliant study analyzed data from 303 consecutive patients scheduled for a renal CEUS to determine the indications for the examination. A chart review was performed from 05/01/2020 through 05/31/2021 on all patients who received a renal CEUS. The patient demographics were extracted as well as the motivating factor for ordering the examination.
Results: From the 303 patients, 114 were referred because of an indeterminate mass seen on CT and 28 were referred for long-term follow-up of a mass defined as benign or malignant was identified on CT. 9 patients were referred for a CEUS follow-up due to an indeterminate mass on MRI and 6 patients were referred for long-term follow-up of a mass defined as benign or malignant on MRI. 34 patients were referred for follow-up for characterization of a lesion seen on unenhanced ultrasound. 48 patients and 21 patients were referred for long-term follow-up of a previously observed benign or malignant lesion, respectively, seen on CEUS. CEUS was ordered in 21 patients to follow-up a partial nephrectomy and 5 patients for follow-up of a thermal ablation. 7 patients were referred because of a clinical finding.
Conclusion: The main reason for a renal CEUS referral is to characterize a mass which could not be characterized on CT or MRI. Another main indication is for long-term follow-up of lesions to decrease radiation dose. Referrals due to inability to receive CT or MRI contrast or renal insufficiency were minor indications.
Diana Kazimierski
Michael Vanes
Cynthia L Peterson
Richard G Barr
Abdom Radiol (NY)
. 2022 Feb;47(2):757-762. doi: 10.1007/s00261-021-03370-8. Epub 2021 Dec 8.
2022
English
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of the liver: a review of the clinical evidence for SonoVue and Sonazoid.
CEUS; Liver; Sonazoid; Sonovue (Lumason); Ultrasound contrast
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become an established modality in various clinical indications for liver diseases. SonoVue((R)), a pure blood pure agent, and Sonazoid((R)), which exhibits an additional Kupffer phase, are contrast agents approved for liver imaging. This review discusses and compares the current clinical evidence for these two ultrasound contrast agents in the characterization and detection of focal liver lesions in the non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic liver, as well as for the use in interventional procedures such as liver biopsy guidance, and local ablation treatment monitoring. Reference is made to clinical studies which evaluated the accuracy of CEUS using a standard of reference, its safety, or to comparative studies of these two agents.
Barr Richard G; Huang Pintong; Luo Yan; Xie Xiaoyan; Zheng Rongqin; Yan Kun; Jing Xiang; Luo Yukun; Xu Huixiong; Fei Xiang; Lee Jeong Min
Abdominal radiology (New York)
2020
2020-05-18
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
journalArticle
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-020-02573-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1007/s00261-020-02573-9</a>
Contrast enhanced ultrasound for focal liver lesions: how accurate is it?
diagnosis; ultrasonography; Radiology; metaanalysis; Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging; ct; us; hepatocellular carcinoma; benign; ceus; Contrast enhanced ultrasound; Focal liver lesions; mri; Sensitivity; washout
With the recent FDA approval for characterization of focal liver lesions (FLL) in both pediatric and adult patients using Lumason (sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles), increased use of ultrasound contrast for routine clinical use is expected. This agent has been available for many years in Europe and Asia, and a large body of literature is available regarding the sensitivity and specificity of this agent. In addition, a few studies have directly compared CEUS to CECT and CEMRI for the characterization of focal liver lesions. This paper reviews the literature to provide a background to investigators in the United States as to the accuracy of CEUS in the characterization of FLL. This paper reviews the literature regarding sulfur hexafluoride microbubbles (Lumason in the USA and Sonovue in the rest of the world) since it is the only FDA approved agent in the USA for characterization of FLL. The results of other ultrasound contrast agents which are not FDA approved for abdominal indications (approval for cardiac indications) most likely will have similar results.
Barr R G
Abdominal Radiology
2018
2018-05
Journal Article or Conference Abstract Publication
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1257-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1007/s00261-017-1257-6</a>
Artifacts in contrast-enhanced ultrasound: a pictorial essay.
Artifacts; CEUS; Contrast; Ultrasound
Although contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has become a widely utilized and accepted modality in much of the world, the associated contrast agents have only recently received approval in the United States. As with all radiological techniques, image artifacts are encountered in CEUS, some of which relate to commonly encountered ultrasound artifacts, while others are unique to this technique. Image artifacts must be recognized when performing and interpreting examinations to improve technique and diagnostic accuracy. In this article, we review artifacts that may be encountered in CEUS, and where possible discuss how to minimize them or mitigate their effect on image quality and interpretation.
Fetzer David T; Rafailidis Vasileios; Peterson Cynthia; Grant Edward G; Sidhu Paul; Barr Richard G
Abdominal radiology (New York)
2018
2018-04
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-017-1417-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1007/s00261-017-1417-8</a>